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| Baby receiving Polio vaccine illustration |
The Israeli public is concerned after tests revealed traces of the paralyzing Polio virus in the sewer system in the Israeli cities of Kiryat Gat and Ashdod, according to a statement released by the Israeli government.
Traces of the crippling polio virus was discovered last week, in Be’er Sheva and Rachat. This week, Polio traces were found in the sewers of Kiryat Gat and Ashdod too. The Israeli Ministry of Health fears that the virus originated from the Bedouin village of Rachat.
The ministry stressed that there was no cause for alarm, since the fresh water system was tested and was found not to be contaminated. Ministry officials added that the process of vaccinating the entire population of Rachat was already underway and will be completed shortly.
According to a notice published by the World Health Organization, the virus was found in Rachat during a routine test of wastewater near the southern part of the city, last month.
Rachat has a population of 53,000. There were no reports of polio infections.